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Wag the Dog
1997 97 min United States of America R 16+
★7.8
Comedy, Drama
Director: Barry Levinson
🎭 Based on
«Wag the Dog: A Novel»
byLarry Beinhart
Trailers
Description
During the final weeks of a presidential race, the President is accused of sexual misconduct. To distract the public until the election, the President's adviser hires a Hollywood producer to help him stage a fake war.
Budget:
$15M
US Gross:
$43.06M
Worldwide:
$64.26M
Starring
Dustin Hoffman
Actor
Robert De Niro
Actor
Anne Heche
Actor
Awards
Berlin International Film Festival 1998
— Silver Bear – Special Jury Prize
Berlin International Film Festival 1998
— Golden Bear
Screen Actors Guild Awards 1998
— Best Actor
BAFTA 1999
— Best Adapted Screenplay
Academy Awards 1998
— Best Actor
Academy Awards 1998
— Best Adapted Screenplay
Golden Globe 1998
— Best Actor (Comedy or Musical)
Golden Globe 1998
— Best Screenplay
Golden Globe 1998
— Best Picture (Comedy or Musical)
Key opinion
Wag the Dog is widely regarded as a brilliant and prescient political satire that exposes the mechanisms of media manipulation and the performative nature of modern politics. While some viewers feel the film lacks emotional depth, the consensus celebrates the sharp writing and the masterful chemistry between leads Dustin Hoffman and Robert De Niro.
| Acting | Dustin Hoffman and Robert De Niro deliver masterful performances that anchor the film's cynical exploration of political theater. | |
| Direction | Barry Levinson’s direction effectively balances sharp, cynical satire with a fast-paced, dialogue-driven narrative style. | |
| Screenplay | The screenplay provides a highly intelligent and biting critique of how media narratives can fabricate reality to manipulate public opinion. | |
| Theme | The film functions as a precise, almost prophetic, forecast of how political spectacles are manufactured, gaining status as a benchmark for political satire. | |
| Emotion | Opinions on the film's emotional resonance are divided: some admire the technical, cold precision of the satire, while others find it emotionally distant or lacking in spiritual depth. | |
| Accessibility | The film's appeal is polarized by audience expectation; it is highly valued by political scientists and PR professionals for its structural accuracy, while general audiences may find the cynical, niche subject matter less engaging. |